# %20 in channel IDs

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/20-in-channel-ids/842288>\
**Category:** Live TV & DVR\
**Tags:** livetv-dvr, server-mac, other-third-party\
**Created:** [May 25, 2023, 7:43pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/20-in-channel-ids/842288 "2023-05-25T19:43:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![NTLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8dc957/32.png) [@NTLX](https://forums.plex.tv/u/NTLX)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 7:43pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/20-in-channel-ids/842288/1 "2023-05-25T19:43:50Z")

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Server Version#:  
Player Version#:  
Tuner Make/Model:  
Guide/Lineup name:  
Using XMLTV?:  
Channel number/Name:  
\<If providing [server logs](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200250417-plex-media-server-log-files/) please do NOT turn on verbose logging, only [debug logging](https://support.plex.tv/articles/201643703-reporting-issues-with-plex-media-server/#toc-1) should be enabled\>  
Unfortunately, since the last update, the vbox connection is not working again properly . I am very angry because you have already corrected this error once. In the channel names where the character string “%20” is present, which I think means “space”, those channels do not come through (error code: 5000), the others do. Please fix it urgently because this is a big mistake!!!

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>
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**Author:** ![pshanew](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/pshanew/32/160555_2.png) [@pshanew](https://forums.plex.tv/u/pshanew)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2023, 8:38pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/20-in-channel-ids/842288/2 "2023-05-25T20:38:35Z")

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In testing here, I confirmed that sticking a `%20` string in my XMLTV channel IDs I was able to reproduce the problem (using the hosted Plex web client). Interestingly, if I just insert an actual space instead of the escaped `%20`, it works fine. So I’m curious why VBOX is URL-encoding this data to begin with. It’s not as if the XMLTV “spec” suggests it (or disallows it for that matter).

So a quick workaround may be for you to download that file and do a find/replace on %20 with a space, and point your Plex DVR at the modified file.

Also, this appears to be a duplicate of:

> [@Some Live TV dont playable via Vbox](https://forums.plex.tv/t/some-live-tv-dont-playable-via-vbox/842228):
>
> Server Version#: 1.32.3.7089 Player Version#: Tuner Make/Model: Vbox 4144 Guide/Lineup name: Using XMLTV?: yes Channel number/Name: \<If providing [server logs](https://support.plex.tv/articles/200250417-plex-media-server-log-files/) please do NOT turn on verbose logging, only [debug logging](https://support.plex.tv/articles/201643703-reporting-issues-with-plex-media-server/#toc-1) should be enabled\> Hello, I have a vbox, everything is ok with it. I can see the TV with the vbox standalone app. But when connect to the PLEX via live tv and DVR, every EPG is visible but non of the channel are playable since 1 week. (Error code 5000) I tried everything (del…

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**Author:** ![NTLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8dc957/32.png) [@NTLX](https://forums.plex.tv/u/NTLX)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 5:24am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/20-in-channel-ids/842288/3 "2023-05-26T05:24:16Z")

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%20 is the ONE of the strange codes. There are others for”+” and Hungarian characters for example áéíőöő etc.  
Sorry i dont know what means “ point your Plex DVR at the modified file” i am not computer genius

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**Author:** ![BigWheel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/bigwheel/32/78783_2.png) [@BigWheel](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BigWheel)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 5:39am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/20-in-channel-ids/842288/4 "2023-05-26T05:39:24Z")

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I’m not clear. Are you using your own XML file @NTLX for your guide? or are you using our EPG

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**Author:** ![NTLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8dc957/32.png) [@NTLX](https://forums.plex.tv/u/NTLX)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 6:28am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/20-in-channel-ids/842288/5 "2023-05-26T06:28:07Z")

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I use the connected vbox android device xmltv epg  
Regards

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![NTLX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8dc957/32.png) [@NTLX](https://forums.plex.tv/u/NTLX)\
**Post date:** [May 26, 2023, 6:31am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/20-in-channel-ids/842288/6 "2023-05-26T06:31:23Z")

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only those channels that do not have strange characters in their XML names can be watched at the moment with Plex. see the Google sheet list above

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**Author:** ![Mihail\_RO](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/mihail_ro/32/270006_2.png) [@Mihail\_RO](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Mihail_RO)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2023, 1:24am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/20-in-channel-ids/842288/7 "2023-06-11T01:24:10Z")

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Hi,

I have the same issue using a vbox. All the Channels that contain spaces or other special characters do not work anymore. Fortunately, I managed to revert to the previous plex server version ( for windows) and the problem is gone. Now as I like keeping the software updated, am forced to stay with this older version who knows for how long. We cannot edit the xml because it is the one sent by the vbox itself. As there is no epg for my region in plex, I need to insert in the xml Field, during the dvr setup step in plex, the URL from the vbox xml, for example 10.0.0.93/program\_guide.xml:55555 which I copy from the vbox config.

This was solved once already, it should not take long to be fixed , if plex support team acknowledges that we are not complaining just for the sake of complaining, right?

Thank you for hearing us, and waiting for a fix.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BigWheel](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/bigwheel/32/78783_2.png) [@BigWheel](https://forums.plex.tv/u/BigWheel)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 4:16am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/20-in-channel-ids/842288/8 "2023-06-16T04:16:08Z")

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is is possible for you to get me a copy of the xml file

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**Author:** ![Mihail\_RO](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/mihail_ro/32/270006_2.png) [@Mihail\_RO](https://forums.plex.tv/u/Mihail_RO)\
**Post date:** [June 16, 2023, 4:44am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/20-in-channel-ids/842288/9 "2023-06-16T04:44:51Z")

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Hi,

Sure, here it is:  
[vboxXmltv.zip](https://forums.plex.tv/uploads/short-url/8wLIKBqIlEuV30EcKNT7oXk9mc4.zip) (104.8 KB)

And also logs taken from a working PMS version ( 1.32.2.7100 ):

[Plex Media Server Logs\_2023-06-13\_17-17-27.zip](https://forums.plex.tv/uploads/short-url/djh2Gf6hGUFctYcen8oHHTpkyFf.zip) (640.0 KB)

and logs from the latest version of PMS:

[Plex Media Server Logs\_2023-06-13\_17-25-29.zip](https://forums.plex.tv/uploads/short-url/afTjH5nuviixM2QPc0kh9WyG87N.zip) (795.1 KB)

We are discussing about this isuue in this thread also:  
[Some Live TV dont playable via Vbox - Live TV & DVR - Plex Forum](https://forums.plex.tv/t/some-live-tv-dont-playable-via-vbox/842228)

Thank you,  
Mihail

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\
**Post date:** [September 14, 2023, 4:45am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/20-in-channel-ids/842288/10 "2023-09-14T04:45:43Z")

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